DISCOURSE- HISTORICAL APPROACH TO CRITICAL DISCOURSE STUDIES: THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS, BASIC CHARACTERISTICS AND ANALYTICAL TOOLS

Abstract

The ongoing research work probes and restores the Discourse-Historical Approach (DHA) in Critical Discourse Studies (CDS) creed through a re-conceptualization of such a discourse analytical trend. In this perspective, drawing on the theories and views developed and shared by prominent proponents like Wodak (2001, 2009, 2011, 2015a, 2015b), Reisigl (2017), Wodak & Reisigl (1999) Reisigl & Wodak (2009), Weiss & Wodak (2003), the study sheds some insights into the DHA. Merely theoretical in its nature, it sets the foundations of how to do a historical analysis of a discourse or a text. It finally provides, through suitable tools and discourse strategies, some guidelines (and not a panacea) to carry out a critical analysis through the DHA lens. Indeed, a re-visitation of previous works on DHA has helped bring to limelight the distinctive features of that discourse analytical perspective and how to approach language use (or discourse) under the DHA angle.